Excavating machine



Aug. 18, 1931. P. BURKE E'r Al.

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet lNDENTORS Phi wvfu- /LMMJ m 9 'fuuol ATTORNEUJ Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL BURKE AND ARTHUR ORLOFF, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO NORTH- WEST ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN EXGAVATING MACHINE Application filed February 23, 1929. Serial No. 341,962.

The invention relates to excavating apparatus and while certain of the features relate more particularly to pull shovels other features are not confined thereto.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel connection between the hoist cable and dipper handle which permits of checking the movement of the dipper handle relative to the boom in various positions and thereby eliminates the usual spring cushioning devices or bumper blocks.

It has been found by experience that an angle or inclination of the bucket which is suited to one digging condition might not be suited entirely to another condition or to different portions of the digging cycle. According to the present invention the dipper is given a variable rake during different portions of the digging cycle by a novel mounting of the dipper on the boom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dipper handle of simple and strong construction and to improve generally machines of this type.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined b v claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation View of an excavating apparatus embodying the .V

invention, the mach ne being shown in full with the boom iii-raised position and associated as a composite view with the boom lowered in a digging position.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View showing the drag cable reeving;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a part of the hoist cable reeving at the shear leg;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view through the dipper handle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of the pivotal connections between the boom and dip- Per;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation View taken on the line. F--- of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the broken line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. S is a detail view showing a modified form of hoist cable reeving.

Referring to the drawings the' numeral 10 designates a traveling base equipped with suitable propelling means, such as the endless propelling treads 11, which are driven in known manner by a prime mover 12 mounted on the rotary base 13 of the machine. 'dragline drum 14 and a hoist drum 15, equipped with suitable clutches and brakes are mounted on the rotating base. The construction thus far described constitutes a base unit that may be used in connection with different types of booms and excavating equipment, which booms are ordinarily connected to a hinge pin 16 on the rotating base.

In order to readily adapt this machine for use as a pull shovel or traveling bucket excavator, we have provided a shear leg 17 having a part 17 which is attached to the rotating base by a hinge pin 16 at one end and at its other end 18 carries a hinge pin 19 for the boom 20, which permits this boom to be used in connection with an inwardly swinging clipper or with a dipper that travels back and forth along the b oom. The inclination of this shear leg relative to the base is readily varied through an adjustable cable connection. 2l between the main frame 22 of the machine and a pulley 23 secured by bars 24: to the upper end of the shear leg.

The boom has been shown more particularly rigged up as a pull shovel wherein the numeral 25 designates the clipper' or bucket operatively connected to handle 26 pivotally connected by pin 27 to the outer end portion of the boom 20. The drag function is performed in the usual manner by the drag cable 28 which passes from the drum 14 be. tween oppositely disposed pulleys 29 on the shear leg 17, thence over a pulley 30 On the boom, thence around padlock sheave 31 secured to the forward portion of the bucket 25, thence back over pulley 32 on the boom to a dead end connection with the boom at 33.

The hoist cable is preferably made up of several parts of line or flexible tensile elements. The preferred reeving is shown in Fig. l wherein the numeral Si designates one of the hoist lines and 35 the other, which may be a woven line or chain. The line 34 passes from the hoisting drum 15 under a pulley or sheave 36 on the shear leg 17 thence around a padlock sheave 37 and over a pulley 38 on the shear leg 17 and thence to a dead end connection 39 with the padlock 40. The line is secured at one end to the block 40, passes over a pulley 41 mounted on a bracket 42 projecting from the outer endl portion of the boom and is dead ended to the dipper handle 27 by connection with the pin 43 of a link 44 which is pivotally connected at 45 with the upper end of said handle. This link 44 varies the radius arm of the dipper handle at different portions o the digging or dumping cycles.

Referring to Fig. l, it .is noted in the full line showing of the dipper in its upper position that as the link 44 comes in Contact with the dipper handleat the point 46 it creates a radius arm measured between the point 27 as a center and pin 43. It is to be noted that when the attaching pivot point 45 of link 44 to handle 26 comes into direct line with the dead end 43 of the hoist cable 35 and the pivotal point of the handle 26, the radius arm or outward throwing effect of the hoist cable is reduced.

By this means we are able to soften or reduce the throw of the dipper and the handle at its outer position, thereby eliminating the necessity of any cushioning means, such as bumper blocks or springs. It will also be noted that in its upper position the stick 26 does not extend out lengthwise of the boom.4

The geometric relation of the link is such as to give ample throw-out radius at the early portion of the throw-out operation and to quickly reduce this arm at the latter portion of this operation. Furthermore, when the dipper is in its digging position, as shown in the lower full line position in Fig. l, the snubbing action of the link 44 and hoist cable come into play, for while in this position the dipper handle 26 can be or is extended farther out beyond the boom from that Where it 1s ralsed, the action of said link 44 and hoist cable 35 acts to check the undesirable tendency of the outer end of the stick 26'striking the boom under these conditions and thus eliminates the necessity of spring-cushioning device for the contact point 47 on the handle when it comes into proximity with the part 48 on the boom.

It has been found by experience that an angle or lnclination of the bucket which is sulted to one condition of digging might not be suited entirely to another condition or different portion of the cycle. As an example, when the dipper is in the upper dotted line positlon A, in a dirt-holding position, it requlres a rake of the dipper such as to hold its load most advantageously or, in other words, a minimum rake is desirable. It may be seen that the same is required of the dipper in its digging position at the bottom of the trench as shown in the position C. It has been found that if the tilt or the rake of the bucket is excessive this part o? the cycL merely a scraping'action will ensue in. of a digging action ot the teeth thereby limiting the depth orn the treah attained. present construction provides for an aut-oniatic rake of the dipper. l n its progression from its position extended outwardly beyond the boom to its cxtreme inward `yposition A, this is accomplished by pivoting the dipper handle brace 49 on a shaft 50 so located that aplane passing through its axis and the axis of the pivot 27 is normal to the boom, and pivotally connecting the lower end of said brace at point 5l to the dipper and pivotally connect-ing the handle 2G at the point 52 to the dipper. iVith the parts so arranged the rake action of the bucket will undergo a change when the dipper moves from the position C to A. When pivotal points 27, 50 and 5l are in direct line the bucket will have its maximum rake, as shown in position B, inasmuch as the linear distance from 27 to 51 will be the maximum. It also may be seen when the dipper is in the positions A and C that the linear distance from 27 to 5l is considerably less than in position B, thereby reducing the rake of the bucket substantially with the attendant advantage heretofore pointed out.

The dipper' itself may be of any suitable construction, either of the Well known bottom dump type, equipped with a suitable latch to hold it closed, or it may be of the solid bottom type, in which instance the load is dumped by extending the dipper outwardly of the boom.

The boom 2O is of box section providing channel irons 53 forming rails for a traveling bucket and the pin 27 is carried in the spaced arms 54 of an end casting 55. The anchor plate 56 for the pivot pin 51 is mounted between these arms and is secured by the pin 27 and a pin 57.

The dipper handle is formed of a large pipe section 58 having steel forgings or castings 59 and 60 welded thereto, thus making an extremely strong construction, the arms 6l being integral with the part 59, which is also hollowed out to provide for the link 44. This form of handle is particularly well adapted to withstand torsional stresses as distinguished from the spaced channel or plate constructions frequently employed.

In Fig. 8 a modification of the hoist line reeving is shown, the end of the part 34 of the line being dead ended on the boom at 62 instead of connected to the block 40. In both instances, a multi-part hoist line connection for the raising and lowering of the boom and the dipper and its handle is provided.

lThe general operation of shovels of this kind is well known, the movements of the dipper and boom being controlled by the To meet the above conditions the proper manipulation of the hoist and drag cables.

IVe desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

IVhat we claim as our invention is:

l. In an excavating machine, the combination of a pivoted boom, a dipper and dipper handle pivoted to the outer end portion of the boom, a drag line associated with the dipper and dipper handle to swing the same inwardly toward the boom during digging, a hoist cable for the boom and dipper, and means connecting said hoist cable with the dipper handle above its pivotal point with the boom including a lost motionconnection between lsaid cable and dipper handle and movable rigidly with and relative to said handle for rapidly varying the radius arm ofthe dipper handle at different portions of the digging or dumping cycles.

2.` In an excavating machine, the combination of a pivoted boom, a dipper and dipper handle pivoted to the outer end portion of the boom, a drag line associated with the dipper and dipper handle to swing the same inwardly toward the boom during digging, a hoist cable for the boom and dipper, and a link connecting said hoist cable with the dipper handle above its pivotal point and having a lost motion connection movable rigidly withand angularly relative to said handle during different portions of the digging or dumping cycles.

3. In an excavating machine, the combina? tion of a pivoted boom, a dipper and dipper handle pivoted to the outer end portion of the boom, a drag cable associated with the dipper and dipper handle tQ-swing the same inwardly .toward the boom`during digging, a hoist cable for the boom and dipper, said dipper handle having a recess in its upper end and a stop portion, and a link connected to said hoist cable and pivotally mounted in said recess and cooperating with said stop portion to vary the radius arm of the dipper handle at diferent portions of the digging or dumping cycles.

4. In an excavating machine, the combination of a pivoted boom, a dipper handle only pivoted to the outer end portion of the boom, a dipper pivoted at one side to the dipper handle, a link means pivotally connecting the other side of the dipper with the. boom at a point so located that a plane passing through its axis and the axis of the dipper handle boom pivot is substantially normal to the boom, a drag cable for swingingthe dipper inwardly toward the boom during digging, and a hoisting cable associated with the dipper handle for controlling its outward movements and the movements of the boom.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination of a pivoted boom, a dipper handle only pivoted to the outer end portion of the boom,

tures.

ARTHUR ORLOFF.

PAUL BURKE. 

